A much underestimated figure in Russian art, Leon Bakst is best known for the decorative art which he created for Sergei Diaghilev and the Ballet Russes. Fired by his love of colour, his brightly painted sets and richly coloured costumes combined extravagant designs with refined details to convey a heady atmosphere of Slavonic orientalism. This mixture of modern art with traditional Russian folk art inspired dancers and audiences alike. He became artistic director for Diaghilev in 1909, and his stage designs rapidly brought him international fame. Among his finest creations were the designs for Tchaikovsky's ballet Sleeping Beauty (London, 1921). Bakst also excelled at graphic art, indeed his first real success came in 1898 after he co-founded the influential "World of Art" group, sponsored by Savva Mamontov (1841-1918), and took charge of the illustration of the group's "World of Art" periodical. His exceptional talent at drawing and sketching is exemplified by his pen and ink drawing of Isadora Duncan (1908, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford). 

1908 Isadora Duncan
pencil on paper

Although less well-known than many of his contemporaries, Bakst remains one of the most influential of Russian artists, and was chiefly responsible for the visual impact of the Ballets Russes. He revolutionised the design of theatrical scenery and costumes, and ranks among the most influential modern artists of the early 20th century.

For full biographical notes on Bakst, and for earlier works, see part 1 also.

This is part 1 of 9 on the works of Léon Bakst:


1909-12 Cléopâtre (Cleopatra):

1909 Costume design for Ida Rubinstejn in Cléopâtre
© St. Petersburg State Museum of Theatre and Music

1909 Costume Design for a Syrian Dancer in Cléopâtre
inscribed à mon ami André Saglio
gouache and gold paint on paper

c1909 Costume design for Cléopâtre

1910 Costume design for Cléopâtre: Bacchante
pencil and watercolour, heightened with gold, on paper-fronted board 27.2 x 19.5 cm

1910 Costume design for a Greek Dancer in Cléopâtre

1910 Costume design for Cléopâtre: Le Petit Négrillon
pencil, watercolour and gouache, heightened with silver, on paper 28 x 21 cm

1910 Costume Design for Musician, for Cléopâtre
watercolour with graphite and metallic paint, on ivory laid paper, laid down on board 21.4 x 23.4 cm
Art Institute of Chicago, IL

1910 Costume Design for Nijinsky as the Slave in Cléopâtre
watercolour and gouache over pencil heightened with gold on paper

1910 Costume design for Danse Juive for Cléopâtre

1912 Costume design for a Spear Carrier in Cléopâtre

1909 Set design for Cléopâtre

1910 Le Carnaval by Schumann (The Carnival):

1910 A Russian dancer, possibly a study of Nijinsky in Le Carnaval, Ballet Russes
pencil 19 x 12 cm

1910 Costume design for Florestan in Schumann’s Le Carnaval

1910 Costume design for Papillon in Le Carnaval
pencil and watercolour on paper
V&A, London

1910 Costume Design for Le Carnaval
watercolour over pencil on paper

1910 Vera Fokina & Michel Fokine in Ballets Russes' Le Carnaval

1910 Vera Fokina & Michel Fokine in Ballets Russes' Le Carnaval

1910 Postcards:

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 8.9 x 14 cm

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm
(Florestan in Schumann’s Le Carnaval)

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm


1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm

1910 Colour lithograph Russian postcard 14 x 8.9 cm

1910-13 Schéhérazade:

1910 Costume Design for Schéhérazade
watercolour heightened with gold over pencil on paper

1910 Costume Design for Schéhérazade
watercolour heightened with gold over pencil on paper

1910 Costume design for Schéhérazade

1910 Costume design for Schéhérazade

1910 Costume design for Schéhérazade

1910 Costume design for Schéhérazade

1910 Costume design for Schéhérazade

1910 Costume design for the Blue Sultan in Schéhérazade

1910 Costume design for the Chief Eunuch in Schéhérazade

1910 Costume Design for the Shah in Schéhérazade
Cover of Supplement to Comoedia Illustre (June 15, 1910)

Designs for Shéhérazade continues in part 3 of this series on Léon Bakst.